Swiss Biotech Report 2005

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28 DOMENICO ALEXAKIS The Executive Director of the Swiss Biotech Association (SBA) explains, how the association wants to be fit for the future. The Swiss biotech sector is very heterogenous. How does the SBA take into consideration the different needs Domenico Alexakis: The SBA steers the strategy with its yearly programme to a useful balance between the different needs. For example, only a few conferences and shows are actively supported so that biotech companies and the important supplier sector for biotechs are well served. The members from the consulting side enjoy the various platforms created by the SBA and use it for their professional networking. One fact is clear: we need to motivate the youngsters today to study life sciences, creating the talents of tomorrow so that the innovation process in biotech can continue or will be increased. For the SBA it means that a segmented approach to scholars and students is necessary. How does the SBA promote Switzerland as an attractive location for biotechs Domenico Alexakis: The SBA is proud to be a founding member of the Swiss Biotech alliance. This unique team is made up of the four organised geographic biotech clusters from Bio Alps (Bassin Lémanique), Bio Polo Ticino (Southern Region), Bio Valley Basle and Greater Zurich Area. The alliance is completed by the SWX Swiss Exchange. In conjunction with these partners, it is a lot easier to promote the sector on a national and international level. In fact, we are the only country worldwide which can position «one nation – one biotech cluster». The regional geographical and business specialities make the appearance interesting and varied in form. The SWX Swiss Exchange has put emphasis on the sector early on and is known as one of the best listing places for life science companies. What is the added value that the SBA offers to its members Domenico Alexakis: The SBA is focusing a lot on added value. We organise discounts for members on biotech conferences, shows, etc., we support the internationalisation process of the companies and we participate in consultation processes with legislation and are building up our lobbying links on national and international levels. Thanks to a CTI project, we currently work on a member portal which should bring a series of services to the member community. The objective is to offer a one-point information platform which reduces the company costs in the information-gathering process. As one of the communication drivers of the industry, we manage and publish fairly regularly company news under www.swissbiotech.org. Lastly, we try to identify gaps in the whole value chain. How does the SBA support the companies Domenico Alexakis: The companies communicate their needs to our board of directors or directly to the executive office. We then discuss the matter and execute a process which in the end goes back to the individual member company or results in a short member information/consultation, etc. The tasks vary from writing a recommendation letter to organising Domenico Alexakis an SBA event on a particular topic. The variety of the industry is mirrored in the variety of the company needs. How does the SBA represent the Swiss biotech sector in the foreign countries Domenico Alexakis: A couple of years ago, we got statements such as «We did not know that Switzerland has a biotech sector». Thanks to the Swiss Biotech alliance and the strong governmental positioning by Location Switzerland and KTI/CTI, the sector has made its marks in the last two years. We also work directly with other industry associations such as the Japanese Biotech Association (JBA) or within the membership in Europa Bio. @ For further information please visit www.swissbiotechassociation.ch
A NEW GENERATION OF IMPLANTS 29 SYMETIS The Zurich-based company was formed with the objective to produce efficient, living, growing and self-healing cardiovascular implants for congenital malformation using tissue engineering concepts. Every year about 3500 children in the Western world must have a valve change due congenital malformation. «These children will have to undergone repeated replacement operations by the time they reach an adult body size», explains Jacques Essinger – Symetis Executive Chairman. «The mortality can be as high as 40% and the accrued cost including complications, notwithstanding the impact on the patient’s quality of life, is substantial.» There is thus, a real need for a better solution. «The Symetis valve is produced out of the patient’s own cell and based on current in-vivo data. We can reasonably expect such a valve to grow with the patient as a normal tissue, eliminating thus the need for costly and life-threatening reintervention. Furthermore, such a valve should neither require the life-long prescription of blood-thinning medication currently taken by patients with an artificial cardiac valve.» The company, located at the Technopark in Zurich, was founded in 2001 as a spin-off of the University of Zurich. In September 2004, Symetis consisted of only four employees. Today there are more than 20 seasoned biologists, technicians and tissue-engineering experts tackling the Symetis challenge: bringing the Symetis valve to the clinic. «The CHF 12 million financing round closed last September was instrumental to the acceleration of Symetis’ growth.» The qualified access to a suitable production facility was on the critical path to bringing Symetis’ tissueengineered heart valve into the clinic. «We had the choice to build our own facility or to gain access to an already built one. We were fortunate to identify in Langenfeld (Germany), shortly after securing our financing, a state-of-the-art GMP-qualified production facility dedicated to human cell growth. It saved us critical time, cash and resources. In addition, a fully trained and competent staff joined us.» ONE-PRODUCT STRATEGY In terms of research the company collaborates with the University of Zurich. «We are leaving the research where it is best done: at the university. Our colleagues at the Zurich Technopark focus on process improvement while our Langenfeld team concentrates on the production processes including quality control, regulatory and validation», says Essinger. He and his team provide a very pragmatic approach. «We are focusing all our efforts on bringing the first tissue-engineered valve conduit to the clinic. Once the reliability of the process will have been established, we will opportunistically sell in selected European countries while building up clinical data to gain regulatory approval in the USA.» Isn’t this a little bit risky «Our product will address a clear medical need and bring a unique solution to pediatric cardiac surgeons. Once the technology will have delivered its promises, many development paths will be possible.» Until today in modern pediatric cardiac surgery two different materials for prosthetic implants are used: artificial materials like carbon, Dacron or PTFE or biological materials such as non-living, fixed animal Founders Prof. Dr Med Gregor Zünd (left), Prof. Dr Med Simon P. Hoerstrup (right), Executive Chairman Jacques Essinger or human tissues. These materials are suboptimal for pediatric application due to the following known weaknesses: • Non-living material with no growth, no potential for regeneration or adaptation • Dysfunction, degeneration and failure over time • Lifelong anticoagulation therapy required with increased morbidity and mortality risk • Infections or inflammations «Our technology can be a paradigm shift for pediatric cardio vascular surgery», emphasises Essinger. «We could give back to children a normal life while saving the society an important financial cost.»
Page 2 and 3: 02 ONE NATION WITH REGIONAL CLUSTER
Page 4 and 5: 04 INCREASING NUMBER OF PATENTS 70
Page 6 and 7: 06 A PRIME BUSINESS LOCATION FOR...
Page 8 and 9: 08 INDUSTRY STATEMENTS ERNESTO BERT
Page 10 and 11: 10 Markus Moser: This process is a
Page 12 and 13: 12 WHAT KEEPS SWISS... THE INNOVATI
Page 14 and 15: 14 «SWITZERLAND IS STILL... BASIC
Page 16 and 17: 16 BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN... NETW
Page 18 and 19: 18 THE MOTOR OF ECONOMIC... HENRI B
Page 20 and 21: 20 THE SWISS BIOTECH INDUSTRY... IN
Page 22 and 23: 22 FINDING ANTIBODIES IN A EASIER W
Page 24 and 25: 24 «THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY... ROUNDT
Page 26 and 27: 26 FAST TRACK TO NEW DRUGS Dr Bo Ni
Page 30 and 31: 30 MILESTONES IN... marked in red a
Page 32 and 33: 32 APPENDIX: FACTS AND FIGURES Many
Page 34 and 35: 34 BASLE ZURICH NUMBER OF BIOTECH C
Page 36: IMPRESSUM Steering Committee: Jürg

Swiss Biotech Report 2005

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